PURPOSES OF SUFFERING (VALUABLE OLDER POST)

Older valuable post (September 18, 2006):

I was struck with a note taken about eight months ago when I was in India. It was a lecture on suffering given by a Christian Indian leader.

Ten Purposes (Benefits?) of Suffering: 

• Suffering helps us to shape our characters 
• Suffering helps us to recognize our true friends 
• Suffering reveals the truth inside us 
• Suffering helps us to hope on the more glorious eternity 
• Suffering helps us to be free from the bound with earthly things 
• Suffering gives us opportunity to think about God 
• Suffering helps us to understand that God suffers with us 
• Suffering helps us to be more sensitive with others who are suffering 
• Suffering helps us to be more open and sensitive in relationship with others 
• Through suffering, God is working for our good